Apparatus for automatically dispensing single or mixed drinks

ABSTRACT

Five cylindrical containers each having an aperture in its bottom wall, are housed in a cabinet. Each container is desirably filled with a different liquid. A tube passes though the bottom wall and into a gear driven electrically operated measuring pump for each container. The pump accurately meters out a desired volume of liquid in direct proportion to the time the pump is pumping. Located downward from each pump is a connected solenoid valve, which turns the liquid flow on and off rapidly and completely. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is operatively connected to the pumps and valves and can be programmed to dispense very precise different mixtures of different liquids. A touch screen visual display unit is operatively connected to the PLC to provide substantial data on a number of different screen displays.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to an apparatus for automatically dispensing different quantities of different liquids into a single container and may be used, for example, in the preparation of mixed alcoholic beverages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 C.F.R. 1.97 AND 1.98.

Mixing different quantities of different liquids is required in many fields, such as the manufacture of antifreeze, windshield cleaner, pesticides, herbicides, medicines, and the like. It is also desirable in the field of alcoholic beverage preparation due to the desire for many mixtures of various liquors to form specific mixed drinks, many of which have widely accepted names, allowing standardization of them. Although the present invention is described below in connection principally with the mixed alcoholic beverage business, it can obviously be utilized in any field that requires precise mixing of various quantities of different liquids.

In the drinking establishments it is customary to employ a bartender to mix various drinks. The ability to remember a large number of different drinks and to mix them quickly and accurately are essential and difficult bar tending skills. In some cases, it may not be possible to retain enough skilled bartenders to serve all the customers promptly. In other cases, perhaps peak demand cannot be well met with the available personnel. In certain social functions such as wedding receptions, club meetings and the like, it may be desirable to serve mixed drinks but may not be economically feasible to hire enough bar tenders to meet the demand promptly. Further, unfortunately, in some cases a significant inventory shrinkage occurs due to improperly measured drink portions. Even small discrepancies between the amounts of various liquors called for in a drink recipe and the amount actually served can have a significant impact on profits.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a machine that can reliably dispense the various liquors in precisely metered quantities, both to relieve pressure on bar tenders and to provide a more accurately calibrated mixed drink.

Efforts to provide such a machine have led to a number of patents.

For example, to control the amount of liquid dispensed, some inventors have relied upon opening a solenoid controlled valve for some time period and then closing it. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0060228 A1, describing an invention by Nicol and published on May 23, 2002, discloses a Programmable Beverage Dispensing Apparatus, comprising a solenoid valves that open to allow pressurized air to flow to the respective air pump, which uses air pressure as the motive force to propel a liquid into a container, with the amount of liquid being proportional to the length of time the solenoid is open. U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,969 B2, issued to Sudolcan et al. on Jul. 29, 2003, discloses a Beverage Dispenser Including an Improved Electronic Control System comprising valves of any suitable design to allow syrup and carbonated water to flow and a solenoid operated valve interface. U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,422 B1, issued to Forbes on Jul. 23, 2002, discloses an Automatic Bar comprising a pumping device which uses a suction pump to draw liquids from a container. Each of these systems delivers quantity of liquid by operating for a specific time, but the rate of flow in each case depends on the volume of liquid in the container, so the actual quantity delivered changes as the amount of remaining liquid in a container changes. Better accuracy in the amount of liquid delivered is desirable for better inventory control and for ensuring that customers consistently receive the full measure of the product they are paying for.

Some approaches to the problem addressed by the present invention may be too complex to be practical. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,819 B1, issued to Peckels on Oct. 26, 1993, discloses a Method and Apparatus for Manual Dispensing from Discrete Vessels with Electronic System Control and Dispensing Data Generation on Each Vessel, Data Transmission by Radio or Interrogator and Remote Data Recording, a comprising a separate radio controlled valve on each separate bottle of liquor, which communicates with a central computer to allow liquor to be poured from each bottle in a predetermined amount as sent to it by the computer and which reports the consumption to the computer via radio waves. This reference is more related to inventory control than dispensing mixed drinks per se.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,911 B1, issued to Shannon et al. on Nov. 16, 1996, discloses an Automatic Drink Dispensing Apparatus Having Programming Means, comprising a number of pressurized liquor containers connected by tubes leading to a connector unit for delivery to a pouring head, with the mix of liquors being controlled by the solenoid valves. A compressed air reservoir delivers air under pressure to the alcohol reservoir 40, thereby using pressurized air as a means of moving liquor through the lines to the solenoid valves. This reference will also deliver different quantities of liquor when the amount of liquid in a container changes.

Use of solenoid valves provides a sure start and stop to the flow of liquid through a tube, with very brief opening and closing times. But any system that relies on keeping a solenoid valve open for a predetermined length of time will deliver a different quantity of liquid under different operating conditions, such as the inevitably different amounts of liquid in the liquor containers, the air pressure, whether compressed or atmospheric and so forth. Use of virtually any type of pump alone results in dripping because even when the pump is not operating, liquid can move through it. Dripping is undesirable because it leads to unsightly messes, which must be continually cleaned, and to inventory shrinkage, which often represents a significant loss and in the case of caustic materials, may present a danger. Further many types of pumps are primarily designed to move fluids and do not deliver accurately reproducible amounts during same running times.

Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus for automatically dispensing single or mixed drinks or the like that accurately and repeatedly measures different amounts of different liquids into a single container; that can be programmed to mix liquids according to a large number of specific recipes; that provides a drip-free final delivery system; that can be readily adapted to mix new and different recipes; that is compact and self-contained; and that is economical to own and operate.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically dispensing single or mixed drinks or the like that accurately and repeatedly measures different amounts of different liquids into a single container.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically dispensing single or mixed drinks or the like that can be programmed to mix liquids according to a large number of specific recipes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically dispensing single or mixed drinks or the like that provides a drip-free final delivery point.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically dispensing single or mixed drinks or the like that can be readily adapted to mix new and different recipes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically dispensing single or mixed drinks or the like that is compact and self-contained.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically dispensing single or mixed drinks or the like that is economical to own and operate.

These objects are achieved by providing a number of individual drink containers, each having an outlet aperture in its bottom wall, which is connected to a gear driven measuring pump to accurately and repeatedly measure the amount of liquid being dispensed. A gear driven measuring pump utilizes meshed gears that permit a very precisely measured amount of liquid to pass between them per revolution or partial revolution of the axle shaft of the pump. Since the pump operates at a known highly consistent rate or revolutions per minute, the volume dispensed is directly proportional to the time the pump is running, which is precisely controlled by the programmable logic controller. Physically below the gear driven measuring pump is a solenoid valve, which is opened to allow liquid to flow through it and closed when the pump has completed pumping the desired amount of liquid. The solenoid valve is opened when the gear driven measuring pump is turned on and is closed when it is turned off. The basic flow of liquid is a gravity fed, with the rate of flow and the amount of the flow being determined by the time an individual gear driven measuring pump is pumping.

Any desired number of these separate systems can be joined together and are controlled by the programmable logic controller, which is readily programmed to allow quick user selection of a number of different mixtures of different liquids, for example, different liquors, from a user friendly touch screen menu on the front of the machine.

The programmable processing controller also tracks a number of matters of interest, such as the day and time, the numbers of specific drinks prepared by the machine, and the days on which they were prepared, and a number of managerial functions, such as a drink container or tank cleaning cycle, programming in new drink recipes and the like. The programmable logic controller can be operatively connected to a remote access terminal or computer to allow a review of the drink history, the additional of new drink recipes, revenue generated, the need to clean the drink containers, the need to replenish the supply of liquors in the drink containers and so forth via the Internet, wireless networking or the like, either by the user or by a centralized office, such as a turnkey vending company that installs and services the machines.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the best mode currently known to the inventor for carrying out his invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary isometric view of the individual drink containers and measuring and flow shut off valves of the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the dispensing mechanism of the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a screen shot of a touch screen control panel utilized by the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1 displaying a drink menu.

FIG. 6 is another screen shot of a touch screen control panel utilized by the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1 displaying information related to a specific drink selected by a user from the touch screen control panel.

FIG. 7 is another screen shot of a touch screen control panel utilized by the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1 showing the menu for operators.

FIG. 8 is another screen shot of a touch screen control panel utilized by the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1 related to cleaning the drink containers.

FIG. 9 is another screen shot of a touch screen control panel utilized by the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1 displaying the specific drink stored in each drink tank.

FIG. 10 is another screen shot of a touch screen control panel utilized by the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1 showing the drink history for inventory and accounting purposes.

FIG. 11 is another screen shot of a touch screen control panel utilized by the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1 showing the history of pump priming.

FIG. 12 is another screen shot of a touch screen control panel utilized by the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1 showing the mixed drinks the apparatus is programmed to mix, with specific recipes available by touching a specifically named drink.

FIG. 13 is another screen shot of a touch screen control panel utilized by the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1 displaying a specific recipe for a specific drink.

FIG. 14 is a schematic flow chart of the interaction of mechanical components and the computer software of the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks according to the present invention.

FIGS. 15, 16, 17 combine to provide an event flow chart of actions and steps of the integrated hardware and software developed for and utilized by the apparatus for automatically dispensing mixed or single drinks of FIG. 1. FIGS. 15, 16 join along line A. FIGS. 16, 17 join along lines B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus for automatically dispensing single or mixed drinks (automatic drink dispensing machine) 10 according to the present invention includes a cabinet 12 having a bottom wall 14 supported by four vertically aligned upstanding tubular legs 16 connected to the bottom wall 14 the cabinet 12 and arranged in a trapezoidal pattern, each having a crutch-tip cushion 18 on its lower end. The cabinet 12 includes a front wall 20, a left-hand side wall 22, a rear wall 24, which is removable to provide access to the mechanism inside the cabinet, and a right-hand side wall 26, which define a trapezoidal horizontal cross sections. A transparent window 28 is fitted and fixed into the cabinet 12 in an upper portion of the front wall 20 and portions of the left-hand side 22 and the right-hand side wall 26 provide a view of the transparent drink containers 30, 32, 34, 36, 38. Each drink container 30-38 is cylindrical and is closed with a circular vented lid 40 having a depending lip portion 42 seated about the top edge of the cylindrical side wall 41 of each drink container 30-38. Vented lids 40 prevent the drink containers 30-38 from collapsing as liquid is removed from them. A computer controlled touch screen visual display unit (touch screen) 44, which also serves as an operator or user interface, is mounted on the front wall 20 of the cabinet 12 below the transparent window 28. The touch screen 44 includes a computer port 49, such as an RS232 port or other suitable access port. All materials used in construction of the drink dispensing machine that contact the drinks and the external cabinet 12 are governmentally approved for use with food material, for example, the cabinet 12 is stainless steel.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drink containers, or liquid containers, 30-38 are arranged in a back row 45 of the three drink containers 30, 32, 34 from left to right and a front row 47 of the two drink containers 36, 38, from left to right as shown. A different drink liquid or liquor can be stored in each drink container 30-38, with all five drink containers 30-38 forming a trapezoidal pattern. Each drink container 30-38 is made from transparent food grade polyvinylchloride with a capacity of two liters each. The automatic drink dispensing machine 10 can be utilized with any liquids.

Referring to FIG. 2, a stop member 46 includes a downwardly depending stem 48 fixed to the bottom wall 14 and a pair of horizontally mounted arms 50, 52 connected to its lower end, with the horizontally mounted left-hand arm 50 and the horizontally mounted and aligned right-hand arm 52 each curved and presenting a concave curve to toward the front of the automatic drink dispensing machine 10. The stop member 46 is used only to locate a drinking glass under the tubes that dispense the drink and does not pivot or toggle to actuate the automatic drink dispensing machine 10.

Still referring to FIG. 2, each drink container 30-38 includes a bulkhead fixture 54, that is inserted through an aperture 57 in the bottom wall 128 of each liquid container 30-38, that includes a female quick disconnect fitting, that is inserted into an aperture in the bottom wall 128 of each drink container 30-38, and further includes depending stem member 56, that is, the mating male quick disconnect member 56. The depending stem member 56, which is a male quick disconnect fitting, is received into a receiving aperture 58 in the female quick disconnect fitting 59 at its upper end and into a liquid intake fitting on a 24 volt electrically actuated gear driven measuring pump 60 at its lower end. The gear driven measuring pump 60 pumps liquor downward through the tube 62, which are operatively connected to the intake fitting 64 of a three way normally closed solenoid valve 66, which, when opened allows the liquor to fall through the liquor delivery tubes 68 and into a drinking glass located against the stop member 46.

Still referring to FIG. 2, it has been found that using a gear driven measuring pump 60 to dispense the volume of liquor provides very accurate and repeatable volume delivery, regardless of the volume, weight or viscosity of liquid in any container 30-38, atmospheric air pressure, the amount of air in any drink or liquid container 30-38 or the volume or weight of any amount of liquid in any drink container 30-38. It has further been found, however, that a gear driven measuring pump 60 does not precisely and completely shut off the flow of liquid through it, so using it alone along the liquor delivery path leads to small drips, which are unattractive, a disadvantage this is eliminated by placing the very sure open or closed solenoid valve 66 immediately downstream of the gear driven measuring pump 60. The solenoid valves 66 are electronically opened whenever a particular gear driven measuring pump 60 is pumping and is otherwise closed. Once the liquor has passed through the gear driven measuring pump 60, all further flow of the liquor due to the force of gravity, accounting for the upper to lower arrangement of all further components, required to conveniently induce the downhill flow of the liquor into the drink glass, as described below.

Still referring to FIG. 2, each of the five bulkhead fixtures 54 rests on and is supported by the upper surface of the horizontal support bracket 70 and each of the depending stem members or female quick disconnect fitting, 56 penetrate an aperture 72 in the horizontal support bracket 70. Suspended from the support bracket 70 is a unitary channel shaped horizontal pump support bracket 74 having an upstanding left-hand end portion 76 and an upstanding right-hand end portion 78. Each gear driven measuring pump 60 is mounted on the upper surface of the channel-shaped bracket 70 by an arcuate pump bracket 80, which clamps over the top of a measuring pump 60 and is fastened to the channel-shaped pump support bracket 74 by a screw 82. Each of the solenoid valves 66 are mounted onto a solenoid bracket plate 84 by the screws 86, with the solenoid bracket plate 84 being connected to the channel-shaped pump support bracket 74 and suspended below it. The essential components, that is, as shown in isolation in FIG. 4, are repeated any desirable number of times, in the case illustrated, five times, with the drink container 30-38, removable bulkhead fixtures 54, the gear driven measuring pumps 60, the solenoid valves 66 and related tubing are the same for each dispensing unit 88 (as best seen in FIG. 4). The automatic drink mixing machine 10 may have any number of dispensing units from one to many.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the 12 volt DC electric power supply 90 and the 24 volt DC power supply 91, which drives the touch screen 44, are fastened to the bottom wall 14 of the cabinet 12 and is operatively connected by suitable electrical wiring to the programmable logic controller (PLC) 92, to the gear driven measuring pumps 60, which measures the volume of the liquid dispensed controlling the time they are running, the solenoid valves 66 and the display lights 96, 98. The PLC 92 is fixed to the bottom wall 14 of the cabinet 12. The 24 volt power supply 91 is operatively connected to the touch screen 44 by suitable wiring. The rear wall panel 24 is fastened to the cabinet 12 using the fastener apertures 94.

Still referring to FIG. 2, a promotional display light 96, which may be a neon light, light emitting diodes, or the like, is fastened to the horizontal support bracket 70 to provide visual stimulation and pleasing lighting to signify that the automatic drink machine 10 is ready to use and a bright strobe light 98 is mounted to the top of the horizontal support plate 70 in front of the drink container 32 and is activated to signal the awarding of a prize, the dispensing of a certain number of drinks, or the like.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the gear driven measuring pumps 100, 102, 104 are mounted with their font ends facing the viewer as seen in FIG. 2 and the gear driven pumps 106, 108 are mounted with their back ends facing the view as seen in FIG. 2, which reduces the length of the space needed to mount them.

Referring to FIG. 3, attached to the outlet tube of each solenoid valve 66 is a separate final delivery tube 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, each of which has a downward path to facilitate gravity fed delivery and has a distal end 120, which are gathered together and may be bound for this purpose, so that each is located above a drinking glass 122, into which the mixed drink is dispensed.

Referring to FIG. 4, a removable bulkhead fixture 54 includes a sealing bulkhead fitting 122 having a flexible resilient upper seal 124 on the inside or upper surface 126 of the liquid container's 30 bottom wall 128 and a similar flexible resilient lower seal 130 on the outer surface 132 of the bottom wall 128 of the liquid container 30. Integrated into bulkhead fixture 54 is the female quick disconnect fitting 59. Mating with the female quick disconnect fitting 59 is the male quick disconnect fitting 56 having an upper male portion 134 that actually fits into the female quick disconnect fitting 59 and a lower tube nipple 136 that receives and retains the upper end of the tube 62. The lower end of the tube 62 is connected to the upper tube fitting 138 on the gear driven pump 60. A lower tube section 140 is connected at its upper end to a lower tube fitting 142 on the gear driven pump 60 and its lower end is connected to a liquid inflow nipple 144 on the solenoid valve 66. The lower or fluid outlet nipple 146 is connected to a final dispensing tube, such as the final dispensing tube 110, which has a lower end connected to a final dispensing nozzle 148 to reduce splashing.

Referring to FIG. 5, the touch screen 44 is shown displaying a variety of different mixtures of different liquids that can be dispensed by the automatic drink dispensing machine 10 in the form of the drink menu 146, which includes an icon and a name for each drink the automatic drink dispensing machine 10 is programmed to provide, which as shown, includes the day of the week 148, a blue Hawaiian 150, a Mai-Tai 152, a Margarita 154, a Tropical Sunset 15, and a Captain 158. The drink menu 146 can be programmed to mix whatever mixed drinks can be made from the five different liquors that are selected to pour into the drink containers 30-38.

Still referring to FIG. 5, the screen shot shown in FIG. 5 is the default screen that is always presented unless the hidden touch area 159 is touched, which takes the screen to the screen shot shown in FIG. 7, which is only to be accessed by authorized personnel, or if a timer reverts the display to a screen saver mode. Whenever a screen saver image is touched, the touch screen 44 automatically displays the screen shot shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, the automatic drink dispensing machine 10 measures and dispenses the ingredient liquors needed to make a specific drink, but some remaining tasks have not been automated and the further instructions needed to complete the particular drink are displayed on the touch screen 44 after the liquid drink ingredients for a specific drink have been dispensed into the drinking glass 122. In the example shown, after the Blue Hawaiian has been dispensed, the further instructions 160 are displayed. In most cases, it will be desirable to include only liquors in the drink containers 30-38 due to the importance of accurately measuring them for inventory control and so other ingredients, when needed, such as fruit juice, water, ice and the like are added by a bartender.

Referring to FIG. 7, the main menu 162 is displayed, offering the bartender or other managerial operator access to important functions that increase the utility of the automatic drink dispensing machine 10. Touching the icon for any of the displayed functions brings up a subsequent screen that allows access to further information or functions. Touching the drink recipes icon 164, for example, brings up the detailed drink menu shown in FIG. 5. Touching the tank set cleaning icon 166 brings up the display shown in FIG. 8, which provides a visual indication of the liquor remaining in each drink container 30-38 for inventory purposes prior to physically removing and cleaning the drink containers 30-38, which is required periodically. Touching the liquor locations icon 168 brings up the screen shot shown in FIG. 9, which shows the various drinks that have been placed into the drink containers 30-38. This information is programmed into the automatic drink dispensing machine 10 when the drink containers 30-38 are filled, which determines the types of drinks that can be mixed.

Still referring to FIG. 7, touching the drink history icon 170 brings up a complete history of the drinks that have been dispensed since the drink history was last reset, including, the number and time and date that various different drinks were dispensed as shown in FIG. 10. Touching the date and time set icon 172 allows the user to set the time and date, which is needed in case of a power failure if a volatile computer memory is used or to reset time to account for different time zones, changes to and from daylight savings time and so forth, if these functions are no automated, which they may be. It is desirable to prime the gear driven measuring pumps 60 to ensure that liquid is inside them prior to dispensing a liquid and touching the priming icon 174 allows them to be primed by momentarily opening the solenoid valves 66 to be opened and the pumps 60, to be turned on briefly, allowing liquid to flow out of the drink containers 30-38. This step is needed each time the drink containers 30-38 are refilled. Touching the exit icon 176 exits the main menu 162 and returns it to the drink menu of FIG. 5. Access to the main menu 162 can be restricted by a pass code, preventing customers or other unauthorized personnel from accessing it. The automatic drink dispensing machine 10 can be programmed to dispense from one to about twenty different drinks from the five drink containers 30-38, with the five drinks shown in the drawings being for illustration only.

Still referring to FIG. 7, the computer port 49 on the touch screen 44 can be operatively connected to a personal computer, through which on site changes can be made to the drink menu and recipes, promotional graphics to be displayed on the touch screen 44, and so forth. This connection is also be used to download the drink history, the amendments of drink recipes, of promotional touch screen displays or advertisements and the like. The computer port 49 can also be used to permit access to the Internet, over which all amendments can be made. Alternatively a wireless networking card may be installed directly into the automatic drink dispensing machine 10.

Referring to FIG. 8, the tank set cleaning menu 178 displays tank icons in a visual array corresponding to the physical layout of the actual physical drink tanks 30-38. That is, the tank 1 icon 180 corresponds to the drink container 36; the tank 2 icon 182 corresponds to the drink tank 38; the tank 3 icon 184 corresponds to the drink container 30; the tank 4 icon 186 corresponds to the drink container 32; and the tank 5 icon 188 corresponds to the drink container 34. The exit icon 190 returns the touch screen 44 display to the main menu. The back icon 192 returns the touch screen 44 display to the previous display screen.

Referring to FIG. 9, the liquor locations display 194, accessed by touching the liquor locations icon 168 on the main menu 162, displays the tank icons in an array corresponding to the physical layout of the physical drink containers 30-38. That is, the tank 1 icon 196 corresponds to the drink container 36; the tank 2 icon 198 corresponds to the drink tank 38; the tank 3 icon 200 corresponds to the drink container 30; the tank 4 icon 202 corresponds to the drink container 32; and the tank 5 icon 204 corresponds to the drink container 34. Each of the liquor locations icons 196-204 also displays the type of liquor in each drink container 30-38. For example, the drink container 30, visually represented by the tank 3 icon 200, contains rum. The exit icon 206 returns the touch screen 44 display to the main menu. The back icon 208 returns the touch screen 44 display to the previous display screen.

Referring to FIG. 10, the detailed drink history 210 is displayed by touching the drink history icon 170 on the main menu 162 (FIG. 7) and includes a drink name column 212 and a top row for named days of the week 214, forming a chart, which is automatically filled in with the numbers of specific drinks dispenses on specific days of the week. The time that each drink was dispensed can also be displayed. For managerial purposes, the number of times the screen has been accessed is displayed at the accessed portion 216. The exit icon 218 exits from this screen and the back icon 220 returns the screen to its prior display.

Referring to FIG. 11, touching the pump priming icon 174 on the main menu 162 brings up the pump priming menu 222. Touching it primes the pumps 60, which is necessary after the drink containers 30-38 have been refilled in order to ensure that liquor is inside the pumps 60 to be measured when a drink is dispensed. Because this step releases liquor that cannot be sold, it provides an avenue for inventory shrinkage, so the number of times the pump priming has been accessed is displayed at the priming numbers display 224 for control purposes. The exit icon 226 exits this menu and the back icon 228 returns the display to the previous display.

Referring to FIG. 12, the drink recipes menu, or main screen for drink dispensing, 230 brought up by touching the drink recipes icon 164 on the main menu 162 (FIG. 5) and displays the icons showing the names of specific drinks that are available, such as the captain icon 232, the blue Hawaiian icon 234, the Mai-Tai icon 236, the Margarita icon 238, and the tropical sunset icon 240. Touching any of these drink recipes icons brings up another screen, which displays the specific recipe for that drink, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Touching the exit icon 242 causes the screen to exit and touching the back icon 244 causes the screen display to return to the previous display.

Referring to FIG. 13, touching the captain icon 246 of FIG. 12 brings up the captain recipe icon 246, listing the specific ingredients that will be dispensed by the automatic drink dispensing machine 10 when this drink is order by touching the corresponding drink name on the menu shown in FIG. 5. The exit icon 248 and the back icon 250 on this screen perform their usual functions. Every exit icon returns the touch screen 44 display to the main menu screen shown in FIG. 7 above.

Referring to FIG. 14, the electrical power cord 252 is plugged into a conventional electrical wall outlet to supply the needed 120 v 60 Hertz power, with the power being turned on and off by use of the illuminated power switch 254. When activated, the power line 252 supplies power from 24 volt power supply 91 to the power supply for the touch screen 44, which has a power output of 24 volts DC at 1.1 amperes and which is operatively connected to the touch screen 44 by the cable 258. Power is also supplied to the gear pump, solenoid valve, neon light and strobe light by the power supply 92, which supplies an output of 12 volts DC at 12.5 amperes, and which also supplies power at 12 volts to the PLC 92 along the cable 262. The PLC 92 is a programmable logic device, which trigger and control six electrical relays operated on 110/120 volts AC from the power cable 252 and each having an output when closed of 12 volts DC. The electrical relays 265, 267, 269, 271 and 273 deliver output signals along the relay output lines 264, 266, 268, 270, and 272 respectively and each relay drives one set of a gear pump 60 and a solenoid valve 66, while the electrical relay 275 provides the relay output 274, which triggers the strobe light 98.

Referring to FIGS. 15, 16, 17, there is shown an event flow chart showing the interaction of the computer software and the mechanical components during the operation of the automatic drink dispensing machine. Software to implement these actions can be drafted by a person of ordinary skill in the art in fewer than about two hundred lines of a high level computer language.

Referring to FIG. 15, in the ready mode, as screen saver module 276 is activated, displaying any desired screen saver on the touch screen 44, which may be entertaining or may be an advertisement or promotion. The specific screen saver may be user selected by selecting any one of the image and/or text options 278, which also determines the cycle time for any repetition of a particular screen saver. When the touch screen 44 is touched at any place on the screen, the revert to main menu module 280 is activated, returning the touch screen 44 display to the main menu module 282, with the resulting display shown in FIG. 7, allowing the user to touch the drink recipes icon 164, to reveal the available drinks as programmed into the drink modules 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, with the specific drinks displayed as shown in FIG. 5.

Still referring to FIG. 15, when a specific drink, such as drink 3 288 is ordered by touching the appropriate drink icon, a number of coordinated and simultaneous actions occur. The strobe relay and timer module 294 is activated, turning on the flashing strobe light 98 to signify to the crowd that a drink is being dispensed, increasing interest in the machine and increasing the sale of drinks. The appropriate solenoid valves 66 are opened and the appropriate gear driven pumps 60 are activated by the relays and timer module 296; a glass filling animation screen modules 298, 300 are activated, causing an animation of a glass being filled with liquid to be displayed on the touch screen 44; and the drink registration screen 302 is activated to place the dispensed drink into the drink history. When the appropriate amounts of the appropriate liquors have been dispensed for a particular drink, the dispensing relays module 302 turns off the gear driven measuring pumps 60 and the associated solenoid valves 66, shutting off the flow of liquids; the animation off module 304 and the glass filing screen off module 306 turn off the glass filling animation and activate the revert to main screen module 308; and the strobe off module 310 turns off the strobe light 98. This operation is the primary operation of the automatic drink dispensing machine 10, that is, the dispensing of mixed drinks. Other operations are primarily directed to various managerial operations.

Referring to FIG. 16, the options on the main menu as shown in FIG. 7 are supported by the drink recipes module 310; the tank cleaning module 312; the liquor locations module 314; the pump priming module 316; the drink history module 318 and the date and time set module 320, which provides touch screen 44 displays illustrated above.

Still referring to FIG. 16, the date and time set module 320 further includes the numeric password entry module 322 that requires a user to enter a password in order to obtain access to the ability to reset the time and date, with an incorrect password leading to the exit menus modules 324, 236, which cause the display on the touch screen 44 to revert to the main screen module 328 or the main menu 330, respectively. Successfully entering a password invokes the date and time screen module 332, which, using a suitable display on the touch screen 44, allows the user to reset the time and date. The clock can be set to real time, to standard civilian time, or twenty-four clock military time. The date and time are reset by utilizing a touch screen display of a calendar and keypad. After setting the date and time, the user can revert back to the main menu through the back module 334 or to the main screen for drink dispensing 230 (FIG. 12) through the exit module 336.

Still referring to FIG. 16, the drink history module 318 further includes the drink history screen module 340, which allows the drink history as shown in FIG. 10 to be displayed for visual checking or transmitting to a remote site and or printing a hard copy. This module does not permit the user to change the display. The module 340 retains a history of every drink dispensed by the automatic drink dispensing machine 10 for five days at a time, that is, when a new, sixth day of history is added, the oldest day in the history is deleted. The drink history can be maintained longer if desired, or may be downloaded to a larger computer for permanent record keeping. The drink history display on the touch screen 44 will display five different types of mixed drinks and cannot reasonable display more due to size limitations, but additional named mixed drinks are displayed by layered pages under the initial page, which are accessed by a back drink display button 221 and a forward drink history button 223 on the bottom of the display 212 on the touch screen 44. After the drink history has been reviewed, the back module 342 returns the display to the main menu if selected and selecting the exit module 344 returns the screen 44 display to the main drink screen 230.

Still referring to FIG. 16, the liquor location module 314 invokes the liquor location module screen 346, generating the touch screen 44 display shown in FIG. 9, allowing the user to view the exact location of the different types of liquor held in the drink containers 30-38, with assists the user in adding the proper liquor to a particular drink container. This screen allows the user not to label individual actual drink containers, which would detract from the appearance of the automatic drink dispensing machine 10. As is the case with other principal modules, the user can then use the back module to return to the main menu or the exit module to return to the drink display screen 230.

Still referring to FIG. 16, the drink recipes module 310, when user activated on the touch screen 44, invokes the specific drink recipe modules 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, each of which, when activated by touching the appropriate icon on the touch screen, generates the a display of the ingredients of a specific mixed drink that have been programmed into the PLC 92, as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 6, utilizing the drink recipe display module, shown as Recipe #1 Text Screen module 358 in FIG. 16. Each of the other specific drink recipe modules 250, 252, 354, and 356 has an identical sub-module associated with it. The user can then exit to return to the main drink screen 230 or invoke the back button function to return to the main menu as shown in the main menu display 162 shown in FIG. 7.

Still referring to FIG. 16, the subroutines associated with the tank set cleaning module 312 and with the pump priming module 316 are shown on FIG. 17, with the connecting lines B, B joining the subroutines of FIG. 17 to the main chart shown in FIG. 16.

Referring to FIG. 17, the pump priming modules 316 invokes the pump priming screen 360, which can be immediately exited through the exit module 363 or the back module 364, as discussed above. To proceed with the priming function, the user selects any one of the priming modules 366, 368, 370, 372 or 374, which when activated by touching the appropriate icon, primes the pump numbered in the touch screen 44 display. For example, invoking the motor number 1 priming module 366 in turn invokes the PLC Relay ON & 2 second Timer Activated module 376, which opens the associated solenoid valve and turns on the associated gear driven measuring pump for two seconds, allowing the liquid in the related drink container to be drawn into the dispensing system. Then the user exists this module. Each pump must be primed whenever a drink container has been emptied and then more liquid has been poured into the drink tank. Because drink containers 30-38 do not empty at the same time, it is important that each gear driven pump can be primed independently of the others. The two second priming process is so quick that the pump priming screen display never changes while a pump is being primed. It is preferable to place a drinking glass under the distal ends 120 of the final delivery tubes 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, to prevent spills.

Still referring to FIG. 17, the tank set cleaning module 312 is crucial to the safe operation of the automatic drink dispensing machine 10 because it must be sanitized periodically to prevent food poisoning and to comply with state health requirements. Activating and following the routine of the tank set cleaning module 312 allow the user to sanitize the drink containers 30-38 one at a time and determines the time that a state approved sanitizing solution remains in any of the drink containers 30-38, reducing the opportunity for operator error and reducing training requirements for maintenance of the automatic drink dispensing machine 10. Although each of the drink containers 30-38 can be removed from the automatic drink dispensing machine 10 and individually cleaned by hand, in a dishwasher or so forth, using the tank set cleaning module 312 also purges and sanitizes all the plumbing below the drink containers 30-38, as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 4.

Still referring to FIG. 17, touching the tank set cleaning icon 166 (FIG. 7) invokes the corresponding module 312, which calls the numeric password entry module 378, which require successful entry of a password on the touch screen 44 to proceed. The required password may be the same as the password required to set the time and date, or may be a different password. If the password entry fails, the user may use the exit module 380 or the back module 382 to exit this menu. If the password entry is successful, the tank set cleaning screen module 384 is invoked, leading to the ability to invoke the exit module 386 or the back module 388 to exit the tank cleaning screen module 384 if it is desired not to clean the a drink container 30-38 at that time. When it is desired to proceed with the tank cleaning, any one of the tank set #1 module 396, the tank set #2 module 392, the tank set #3 module 394; the tank set #4 module 396 or the tank set #5 module 398 is are invoked to enable the ability to clean a drink container 30-38 and the downstream hardware associated with each drink container 30-38 as shown in FIG. 4.

Still referring to FIG. 17, each tank set module 390, 392, 394, 396 or 398 has an identical subroutine system associated to it, as exemplified by the subroutines 400 associated with the tank set #1 module 390, which permits cleaning and sanitizing of the drink container 36, the relay on and timer modules 402 and the timer remaining screen display module 404 are simultaneously invoked. If it is desired to stop the cleaning step, the cancel to stop module is invoked by the user, invoking the PLC Relay off module 408, returning the user to the tank set cleaning screen as above and permitting the user to exit the cleaning system. If the user desires to proceed, the user fills the drink container being cleaned with the cleaning solution and then activates the module 402 remains engaged and activated, turning on the associated gear driven gear pump 60 and opening the associated solenoid valve 66, for 35 seconds, purging the drink container 36 and downstream plumbing of any liquor and filling the plumbing system with cleaning solution. The automatically the PLC relay off module 410, which the routines turn off the gear driven pump and closes the solenoid valve is invoked, shutting down the entire automatic drink dispensing machine 10 for three minutes, the time needed for the sanitizing solution to sanitize the drink container and associated plumbing. Then automatically the PLC relay on & 35 sec timer modules 412 activates two 35 second pumping cycle to complete the tank set #1 cleaning by twice introducing fresher cleaning solution into the drink container 36 and associated plumbing, that is the removable bulkhead fixture 54, the gear driven measuring pumps 60, the solenoid valves 66 and related tubing, assuring the internal passages in these elements are cleaned and sanitized.

Still referring to FIG. 17, then the PLC relay off module 414 is activated to again shut off the flow of liquid through the drink container 36 and plumbing and the Done module 416 is invoked, displacing the message DONE on the touch screen 44. At this point, the drink container 36 is empty and is filled with fresh clean water. Next the rinse module 418 is invoked, causing the rinse screen display to appear on the touch screen 44, which displays a rinse module for each of the drink tanks 30-38, that is, the tank set #1 rinse module 420, the tank set #2 rinse module 422, the tank set #3 rinse module 424, the tank set #4 rinse module 426 and the tank set #5 rinse module 428. Each of which is identical to the exemplary tank set #1 rinse module 420 subroutines, which includes the PLC relay On and 35 second timer module 430 and the simultaneously invoked time remaining display 432. The rinse cycle can be canceled by invoking the cancel to stop module 434 or allowed to pass to completion, which has been achieved when the finished module 436 displays the word finished on the touch screen 44. If the process is canceled, the PLC relay off module 438 is invoked, automatically shutting off the system and displaying the rinse screen again, through the rinse screen reappears module 440. Each drink container 30-38 must be cleaned and sanitized separately, because each may be emptied of liquor at a different rate.

While the present invention has been described in accordance with the preferred embodiments thereof, the description is for illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

1. An apparatus for dispensing liquid comprising; a. at least one liquid container; b. a gear driven measuring pump operatively connected to said liquid container; and c. an solenoid valve operatively connected to said gear driven measuring pump downstream from said gear driven measuring pump.
 2. An apparatus for dispensing liquids in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for turning said gear driven measuring pump on and opening said solenoid valve simultaneously and means for turning said gear driven measuring pump off and closing said solenoid valve simultaneously.
 3. An apparatus for dispensing liquids in accordance with claim 2 further comprising means for controlling the time that said gear driven measuring pump is pumping.
 4. An apparatus for dispensing liquids in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an aperture in a bottom wall of said liquid container and means for conveying a liquid through said aperture to said gear driven measuring pump.
 5. An apparatus for dispensing liquids in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for dispensing a specific quantity of a liquid from said at least one liquid container.
 6. An apparatus for dispensing liquids in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a cabinet enclosing and holding said at least one liquid container and means for displaying information on a wall of said cabinet.
 7. An apparatus for dispensing liquids in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for dispensing more than one liquid and means for measuring the amounts of each said liquid.
 8. An apparatus for dispensing liquids in accordance with claim 7 further comprising means for a user to select a particular volume of each said different liquid.
 9. An apparatus for dispensing liquids in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for stopping a drinking glass in a position to receive a dispensed liquid.
 10. An apparatus for dispensing liquid comprising: a. a plurality of liquid containers; b. a separate gear driven measuring pump operatively connected to each of said liquid containers; c. a separate solenoid valve operatively connected to each of said gear driven measuring pumps downstream from said gear driven measuring pump; d. means for supplying electrical power to said solenoid valves and to said gear driven measuring pumps.
 11. An apparatus for dispensing liquid in accordance with claim 10 further comprising means for dispensing a variety of different mixtures of liquids from said plurality of liquid containers.
 12. An apparatus for dispensing liquid in accordance with claim 10 further comprising means for displaying a menu of different mixtures of different liquids and for automatically dispensing said mixtures separately.
 13. An apparatus for dispensing liquid in accordance with claim 10 further comprising an aperture in a bottom wall of each said liquid containers and a separate connector fitting seated into said aperture of each said bottom wall.
 14. An apparatus for dispensing liquid in accordance with claim 13 further comprising means for electronically tracking a history of various mixtures dispensed by said apparatus.
 15. An apparatus for dispensing liquid in accordance with claim 10 further comprising automated means for priming each said gear driven measuring pump.
 16. An apparatus for dispensing liquid in accordance with claim 10 further comprising automated means for generating an electronic display of mixture recipes.
 17. An apparatus for dispensing liquid comprising: a. a plurality of liquid containers; b. a separate gear driven measuring pump and means for operatively connecting each of said separate gear driven measuring pumps to each of said liquid containers through a separate aperture in a bottom wall of each of said plurality of liquid containers; c. a separate solenoid valve for each of said gear driven measuring pumps and means for operatively connecting each of said separate solenoid vales to and downstream from each of said gear driven measuring pumps; d. means for supplying electrical power to said solenoid valves and to said gear driven measuring pumps; and e. programable logic controller operatively connected to a touch screen visual display unit fastened to a wall of a cabinet and to means for actuating each said gear driven measuring pump and each said solenoid valve.
 18. An apparatus for dispensing liquids in accordance with claim 17 further comprising means for cleaning an interior surface of each of said liquid containers, of each of said gear driven measuring pumps and of each of said solenoid valves and said means for connecting each of said liquid containers to each of said gear driven measuring pumps and said means for connecting each of said gear driven pumps to each of said solenoid valves.
 19. An apparatus for dispensing liquids in accordance with claim 17 further comprising means for notifying a public when a liquid mixture is being dispensed.
 20. An apparatus for dispensing liquids in accordance with claim 17 wherein said cabinet further comprises a plurality of upstanding legs connected to a bottom wall of said cabinet and a stop member fastened to said bottom wall of said cabinet and depending therefrom. 